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Here's an update on his health from our very own Photo Man, Gregory Case:

September 19, 2016 is Global Aortic Dissection Awareness Day.
 
Thirty people per million will have this rare emergency medical event. Forty-percent won’t live long enough to make it to a hospital. Five – twenty percent will die during surgery or shortly afterward. After my 3-month follow-up with my surgeon she stated she was pleased I did not have a stroke or paralysis as that is a common complication. So I was one of those very rare lucky ones. As the tag line says in the Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, “Today is a good day.”  (Since I’m alive.)
 

This Monday is my 19-week anniversary since my medical emergency. My last update was June 19. While I have made significant progress, it has been a very slow and bumpy road to recovery. “
 
“Here is what that road looked like:  Starting May 9, 2016, when the medical emergency first happened, I took two separate trips to the ER, waited 24 hours for medical personnel to figure out what was happening, then transported by helicopter to a hospital one hour’s drive north for emergency surgery. The surgery was followed by 5 days in ICU and 3 days in the cardiac unit.

Since being released from the hospital, I have seen visiting nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, cardio-rehab therapy specialist, cardiac-thoracic surgeon, cardiac-physician assistant, a urologist, a nephrologist, and a cardiologist. In between these specialists there were numerous appointments with my primary care physician. Not to mention the many diagnostic and follow-up medical tests, including blood work, CT scans, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and numerous ultrasounds.
 
In addition to the doctor’s appointments, there were additional medical visits after being released from the hospital: the local Emergency Services/Rescue Squad at our home, and two separate visits to the Emergency Room at our local hospital. In the month of August alone, we had 9 medical appointments.
 
Throughout, there were prescription drugs for blood pressure, dizziness, prostate, cough, nausea, pain, muscle relaxant, antibiotics, and diuretics to name just a few with resulting side effects of on-going nausea and dizziness for about 7 weeks.
 
This long medical introduction underscores what every medical personnel has said to me, while you had a life-threatening surgery with major consequences, you have gone through it virtually unscathed. (Now imagine, if I had been scathed how many other specialists, ER visits, and more days/surgery in the hospital and how many more appointments I would have had in August alone!)
 
No one is sure why the medical emergency happened. I had no family history or undiagnosed chronic high blood pressure which are two of the leading causes that bring on an aortic dissection (the vessels that bring oxygenated blood to the body). My surgeon says I was an outlier.
 
I still have some minor to major problems as a result of the aortic dissection May 9 and resulting surgery May 10. My kidneys have taken a major beating, so I will be involved with a nephrologist the rest of my life. My kidney levels are not great so they will be monitoring my creatinine blood levels constantly.  I still have some numbness on my right hand and upper thigh that could go away someday or might be permanent (time will tell). I currently walk with a cane due to my left leg being weaker than my right but that should heal itself soon and then hopefully no cane. I have a 15-pound weight restriction that could last for a year or so while my chest continues to mend.
 
All medical personnel refer to this as my “new normal.” Personally, I liked my “old normal” but they quickly point out to me that my healing is advanced when I focus on today and not what I used to be able to do. That said, today most of my specialists plan to see me on a 6-month basis which is great news as they see me healing nicely.
 
My emotional trauma throughout all this has been greatly lessened; I have been working with a therapist who has made a significant difference in my mental health.
 
I am able to do a cardio work-out for 2.5 hours a week and hope to increase that amount. The medical personnel are all in favor of lots of cardio work-outs.
 
My concentration has been improving—I can focus longer than before but still not at the level prior to surgery. Daily 1-2 hour naps are still an important part of my life.
 
However, we continue with our photography business which has been a blessing as it allows me to work on something I enjoy.
 
Recently, my mom, brother, and sister surprised me with a long-weekend visit--like a celebration of my life. It was great to see them.
 
We continue to receive great support in the form of e-mails, letters, cards, and notes with healing thoughts, remembrances, and prayers, all that have been so wonderful to receive. Your kindness to both Elena and I have left us speechless and touched. It is wonderful to be remembered while alive…
 
Finally, as if the Spring and Summer from Hell were not enough, mid-August through early September both our moms (age 93) were hospitalized. Elena’s mom fell and broke 4 ribs so was in the hospital for 4 days and then skilled nursing for 21 days. My mom (while visiting us for what was supposed to be a long weekend) had a series of transient problems that eventually landed her in the hospital for 3 days and staying in Pueblo for 15 days. Thankfully, both moms are doing better now.
 
So please do wish us good luck for an uneventful rest of this year.”